I have been going through all these posts to find what items are the best things to have for nursing school. The posts are all scattered so I thought I would start a post that will contain all the info for the new incoming students.
I would like to know what I should spend my money on when it comes to study guides, NCLEX review books, NET review books, best nursing shoes (without a logo), stethescope, misc nursing items you have to have, etc. Any new students/senior students/graduate nurses have any info they can share? What were the items you couldn't live without???
Hi nursenickelmama. I know the feeling about the swimming part, but I at least try to 'study and watch them swim'....just for a little more 'family time'.
I have a laptop, but I won't take it to class. Some people do though. I use mine instead of a PC (hubby uses the PC, I use the laptop.) lol
I just bought a PDA. I bought the HP iPAQ 2495. I love it! I bought a few different types of software, in which I can tell will be a God-send come time for clinicals.
I didn't want to bring a bunch of books to the clinical site, and then have to leave them unattended if I did bring them, so I really like the idea of my PDA being in my pocket all the time! I may get a foldable keyboard for it as well....later on down the road, if I see I need it.
I have epocrates (from epocrates.com), Davis Drug Guide (fadavis.com), Stedman's Medical Dictionary (lexi.com), Archimedes (skyscape.com), and a few other freebie extras that I have found....nonnursing games/utilities,etc.
As far Littmans go.....Some people just by the basic, some purchase the more expensive.
These run from about $37 to $230 on allheart.com. I have ordered the Littman Cardiology III ($125.49), only because I have a slight hearing loss. As a medical assistant, I used $30 stethoscopes & they would do most people well.
Many people would rather get a cheap one for school, and then splurge as a graduation gift for a more expensive one.
So....it's all your call. Don't think you have to go all out. :)
Good luck! :balloons:
Hi, I am interested in buying the same PDA(I start RN school next month) I was wondering what do u use yours for? Do u use if just for organization or do you buy the PDA form of the textbooks you need for class instead of buying the actual book? I'm kinda debating it b/c I think that it might be better to have the actual textbook in front of me instead of on a PDA. I think the PDA will be great for dictionaries and stuff like that.
The thing you need first before you start this adventure is a sense of humor.. ok just joking,,
you can find a med spell checker on the net . its called a franklin med spell checker.. This i could not live without . I also took a pretest seminar offered through my school to take a mock nclex tes . i think this course helped me prepare big time . they told me i haad a 98 percent pass rate which boosted my spirits .I think you may want to consider that too. ok last but not least your going need lots lotion for all the callas your going get from all the note taking .. ok i am kidding . good luck wish you all the best nursebetty boop:balloons: :welcome:
HERE'S A GOOD SITE:
Use the Medical Dictionary to find the meaning of a medical term. You can also check medical abbreviations and acronyms or check the spelling of a medical term.
I was just recently accepted at TCC in fort worth, and we need teal scrubs. I have heard in the past this color is hard to find. Does anyone have a good suggestion of where I should shop for this particular color of teal and low cost scrubs?
Hi, I am interested in buying the same PDA(I start RN school next month) I was wondering what do u use yours for? Do u use if just for organization or do you buy the PDA form of the textbooks you need for class instead of buying the actual book? I'm kinda debating it b/c I think that it might be better to have the actual textbook in front of me instead of on a PDA. I think the PDA will be great for dictionaries and stuff like that.
I have Davis Drug Guide (fadavis.com), epocrates essentials (epocrates.com), Stedman's Medical Dictionary (lexi.com), & am planning on getting a med-surg program also from fadavis.com.
So far the iPAQ 2495b is great. I also have the following non-nursing programs: easytweak (to change the display fonts/colors), Pocket Dictate, and Patiences (solitaire card game with Spider, Klondike & Freecell versions.) EDITED TO ADD: I just downloaded Agile Messenger. It is a multi-messenger freeware that checks/sends IM's from AIM, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ & XMPP. I personally only use the AIM and Yahoo feature, and not the others, but it is sooooo cool.
I purchased a 1 Gb SD card for my PDA, and a 512 Mb SD card for my daughter's camera on Ebay (from the same person), and spent about $33 total. :balloons: They work great. :balloons: :balloons:
As far as the books, our school offers a CD version along with the book itself. I need the book in front of me for regular studying, and the CD for referencing/reading on the road, etc.)
I have seen it mentioned either on this thread or a different one on AllNurses. I definitely plan on using it! :)
Thanks for the reminder! :balloons:
I can't remember where I first heard about it but a year or two ago I mentioned it to my older sister, who's been a nurse for 13 years. She had never heard of it but thought it sounded like a good idea. Now she and all the nurses on her shift keep some in their locker at all times.
Thank goodness for all of you who have gone through nursing school before!! One question...what is the BEST drug book? Some are so hard to navigate, bulky, is there one that most of you like the best?
I have Davis Drug Guide (fadavis.com), epocrates essentials (epocrates.com), Stedman's Medical Dictionary (lexi.com), & am planning on getting a med-surg program also from fadavis.com.
So far the iPAQ 2495b is great. I also have the following non-nursing programs: easytweak (to change the display fonts/colors), Pocket Dictate, and Patiences (solitaire card game with Spider, Klondike & Freecell versions.) EDITED TO ADD: I just downloaded Agile Messenger. It is a multi-messenger freeware that checks/sends IM's from AIM, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ & XMPP. I personally only use the AIM and Yahoo feature, and not the others, but it is sooooo cool.
I purchased a 1 Gb SD card for my PDA, and a 512 Mb SD card for my daughter's camera on Ebay (from the same person), and spent about $33 total. :balloons: They work great. :balloons: :balloons:
As far as the books, our school offers a CD version along with the book itself. I need the book in front of me for regular studying, and the CD for referencing/reading on the road, etc.)
Ok, I just brought the Ipaq hx2495b and I don't know what to do with it. I am not good with computers besides doing the basic stuff. How do you re-align it b/c my son made a mistake and touched the screen when I first started so it's not working right when I want to tap the screen on the right(does this makes any sense?) I already know that I am going to have to purchase a keyboard b/c me tapping at a screen isn't gonna work if I am trying to type something. My RN program requires me to have the Springhouse Nurses's Drug Guide (2006) and the Mosby's Dictionary : Medical nursing and allied health (plus 4 other books). Do you think I should purchase those two for my PDA (since I saw that you have yours on your PDA) instead of getting the actual textbook. I don't know what to do with it and I hope that it was worth the almost 500 bucks I paid for it!!!
I gonna read the book and try to figure out some more stuff and will be asking you more questions in the future.
I think that the PDA version of the nurses' drug guide & the PDA version of the medical dictionary will end up being a God-send!
The more you use it, the more you will get use to it.
It will become a major part of your nursing career as so many nursing schools and medical schools are requiring a PDA now days.
Ok, I just brought the Ipaq hx2495b and I don't know what to do with it. I am not good with computers besides doing the basic stuff. How do you re-align it b/c my son made a mistake and touched the screen when I first started so it's not working right when I want to tap the screen on the right(does this makes any sense?) I already know that I am going to have to purchase a keyboard b/c me tapping at a screen isn't gonna work if I am trying to type something. My RN program requires me to have the Springhouse Nurses's Drug Guide (2006) and the Mosby's Dictionary : Medical nursing and allied health (plus 4 other books). Do you think I should purchase those two for my PDA (since I saw that you have yours on your PDA) instead of getting the actual textbook. I don't know what to do with it and I hope that it was worth the almost 500 bucks I paid for it!!!
I gonna read the book and try to figure out some more stuff and will be asking you more questions in the future.
Thank goodness for all of you who have gone through nursing school before!! One question...what is the BEST drug book? Some are so hard to navigate, bulky, is there one that most of you like the best?
Thanks!
I tried Mosby's and didn't care for it to much, I personally like Davis' much better. I have a hard copy and a pc/pda copy of it.
I think it's a "to each his own" sorta thing though. Hope you find one you like!
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EDITED TO ADD: 
capribry
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Hi, I am interested in buying the same PDA(I start RN school next month) I was wondering what do u use yours for? Do u use if just for organization or do you buy the PDA form of the textbooks you need for class instead of buying the actual book? I'm kinda debating it b/c I think that it might be better to have the actual textbook in front of me instead of on a PDA. I think the PDA will be great for dictionaries and stuff like that.